taken 7 months ago, near to Rockland st Mary, Norfolk, Great Britain

Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) - seed pods

Meadowsweet > Link is a member of the rose family and prefers wet habitats such as ditches, damp meadows and riverbanks. It flowers from June to September. The Tudor herbalist and botanist John Gerard called this wild flower the "Queene of the medowes" and described how it was used to scent people's houses and "delighteth the senses". The plant is also known for its many medicinal uses such as treating joint pain, arthritis and rheumatic conditions, the common cold and for reducing fever. Meadowsweet contains coumarin, which in high dosage can act as an anticoagulant, preventing blood clotting, but is generally considered safe (and widely used) in low dosage.

In 2014, the development and management of the Hellington and Rockland St Mary Community Reserve, comprising the eastern end of Hellington Low Common, was taken on by a community trust "for the benefit of the inhabitants and those interested in Hellington and Rockland St Mary, without distinction of gender, sexual orientation, race or political, religious or other opinions". The land is owned by the Parochial Church Council, with the rent being paid from stakeholders' subscriptions.

The reserve is a designated county wildlife site and covers 6.6 acres of ground which is traversed by the Hellington Beck. With the help of local volunteers and supported by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust and the Parish and South Norfolk District Councils, the trust aims to manage the condition of the reserve and to create a healthy environment for diverse species of flora and fauna to flourish, and to educate visitors of all ages, with the objectives of improving the condition of the reserve and providing opportunities to enjoy the countryside.